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Airline crate size. Strictly enforced?

Trying to fly my lab on American and the max size for the plane is a series 400. Luckily I have one and the only issue is that her head will touch the top when in a normal sitting position. She has plenty of room otherwise and I'm wondering how strict the airlines are on this. Total flight time with connection is only 4 hours.

I thought I had big enough crate for my 55 lbs female but Continental Airlines made us go to wallmart get extra large crate. it's only 4 hr trip but they think the dog have to have head room. She obviously doesn't need a huge crate.
If I were you I would go ahead buy a larger crate at wallmart just incase you need it and return it for full refund if they are fine with what you got.

As someone who just had to sit 12 hours yesterday at the Atlanta airport after Master National, please check with your airline and have them give you SPECIFIC information about flying with your pet. I was flying on Frontier with my golden as checked baggage since I was on the same flight. However, when I checked in at 4:15 am, they demanded a Certificate of Acclimation (which they never advised I needed when I booked the the flight) and I was denied boarding. I ended up missing my flight, and waiting for my vet's office to open to have them fax the paperwork....all the while having to wait until their next flight to Denver which wasn't until 4:00 yesterday afternoon.

Needless to say, Chase and I are VERY familiar with the Atlanta airport now.....

Depends on who is on duty or checking them in. I would go get the bigger one and then no worries. I had to make a flying trip to WalMart once for a larger crate. I had picked up a much larger dog in the same crate but it just depends on airlines and who is working.

Depends on who is on duty or checking them in. I would go get the bigger one and then no worries. I had to make a flying trip to WalMart once for a larger crate. I had picked up a much larger dog in the same crate but it just depends on airlines and who is working.

Aaron

This totally. It really depends on who is working the counter, how busy they are and how much pressure from above they have received. To make matters worse, the extra large crate that some clerl might insist on where you check in could be too large to fit on the smaller commuter airline that might service your final destination. It can be very frustrating dealing with these individuals.

Thanks all. I can't use a larger crate because of the planes involved. I'm just going to make sure my paperwork is all in order and take my chances that the agent won't be a stickler about the crate height. My wife will be with me and can take everything home if it doesn't work out.

Most major airlines adhere to a strict policy that a dog must be able to stand and make a 360 degree turn in the crate before the airline will accept it for transport. The head touching the top of the crate is not the issue, it is "can the dog lie down, sit and turn around". I know this because of 25 years of airline experience as a ticket counter supervisor!

Be warned! The airlines have become ridiculous about the size of crates. Two years ago, we flew 6-month old puppies (separately) to California and had to put them in 500 crates. Totally absurd! The other problem is that one airport might let you get away with it and then the returning airport won't. There is no consistency in administering their requirements. Also, what they might tell you over the phone is not the same as what they might enforce in person. It is totally at their discretion at the airport.